bugton



2 Sheets-Sheet 1.. B. BURTON.

AUTOMATIC MAGHNE GUN.

(No Moel.)

v(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.l B. BURTON. AUTOMATIC MACHINE GUN'.

Patented Sept. 25, 18,88.

' 172 'Wentorf UNITED i STATES PATENT OFFICE.

BETIIEL BURTON, OF LONDON, ENGLAND.

AUTOMATIC MAcHlNi-i-GUN.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Application llled Abril 2. 1886. Serial No. 197.5;8. (No modeLl Pntmted in England March To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, Burner. BURTON, at present residing in the city of London, Eng

' land, have invented a new and useful Automatic MachineGnn, (for which Letters Patent have been granted me in Great Britain, No. 4,008, dated March 22, 1886,)01' which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to that class of gun known as automatic machine-gun actuated by its own recoil; and it particularly relates to a new class of automatic machine-guns having two or more barrels, and where the recoil of the exploded charge of one loads and fires the other, and Vice Versa, and, where more than one pair of barrels are used, cach pair will work independent ofthe other should any one pair break down.

The important ieaturesoi my present invention are: v

First. All the movements of the actions and barrels are positive and not dependent on auxiliary springs to perform their different functions.

Secondly. Instead of using one'barrel I use any number required, and the recoil of one barrel from the exploded charge opens the breech, ejects the spent shell, and brings a loaded cartridge in front of the bolt, ready to be shoved into theV barrel. It also pushes the other bolt and barrel forward together with the cartridge, closes the breech, and fires the charge, the explosion of which closes the breech ofthe other action, and so on, tiring alternately, first one and then the other. rIhus as many actions and barrels as may be required may be constructed side by side and tired in pairs, or all together, so that in case any one ofthe actions or barrels is disabled the others can continue firing.

Thirdly. By iiring the same number of charges through two or more barrels that are required to be fired where only one barrel is used, I obtain thereby the minimum heating. of the barrels, thus avoiding the necessity of v using a water-jacket round the barrels, although a water-jacket maybe used, if desired.

Fourthly. The force of the recoil from the exploded charge is regulated and controlled by means of a valve, placed, by preference, in the rear communication betweenthe cylinders.

Fi fthl y. The discharged barrels are brought forward by means of a balance-lever pivoted Patent N0. 390.114, dated September 25, 1888.

es, man, Nn. 4,008.

at its center to the frame, and at either end to the barrels, so that when one barrel reccdes the other barrel advances, and vice versa.

Sixthly. To delay the opening of the breech for a certain period of ti me I make use of a sel t'- acting brace, which permits the bolt and barrel to travel together for a certain distance, and when the brace releases the bolt the bolt travels back by the force from the unescaped i gases. The force exerted by those gases upon the bolt is utilized for the purpose of operating the companion action and barrel by means of the action of the pistons in the cylinders. I do not confine myself to this particular system, whereby the barrel andbolt are kept together for a certain distance. The same may be accomplished by other distinct methods which I sometimes use. One of those methods consists of a solid clutch on the bolt, which engages in a flange on the barrel, and is made to engage and disengage by means of a can] hereinafter described. Another method consists of a lever pivoted to the bolt, which is thrown in and out of gear by a cam-action,' also hereinafter described. v

The cartridges are supplied t0 the gun by an upright hopper-such as is in general use on machine-guns-from which the cartridges drop into a revolving feed or pannier, by which they are conveyed in front ot' the bolt and by which the spent shell is carried oli' when extracted and thrown ont through an opening in the side or bottom of the frame of the gun. This pannier is revolved by the reciprocating motion of the bolt. I wish it to be understood that I do not claim the pannier actuated by the bolt as my invention, except in combina.- tion with my invention; nor do I contine myself to this particular feed, as any other suitable feed may be used. V

My present invention moreover comprises various improvements, hereinafter described, applicable to other guns.

In the accom panying drawings I have shown different methods or modifications of an automatic machine-gun designed to operate in accordance with the general plan ot' my present invention, in which-#- Figure l is a longitudinal vertical section of my breech action, frame, and barrel. The front parts ofthe fra-me and barrel of all the longitudinal viewsand plans are` broken oli' IOO for convenience. Fig. 2 is atop plan view of the same, the top plate removed to show the several parts. Fig. 3 is a cross vertical scction through w,-Fig. 1, showing the hopper and box. Fig. 4 is a vertical cross section through z z, showing the rear end of the hopperbox. Fig. 5 isa side view ofthe barrel and the frame F. Fig. 6 is a rear end view of the gun,showiiig the steering and starting handles and the doubleaction fastener for keeping the handle in place. liig. 7 is a longitudinal vertical section showing one form or modification of said gun. Fig. 8 isaplan view of the same with the top plate removed to show the action and barrels. Fig. 9 is a vertical cross section through w ai, Fig. 7, showing the revolving pannicr and the hopper placed in the hopperbox. Fig. 10 is a longitudinal vertical section with the rear cnd ol' the frame removed for convenience, showing :mother form or modification of said gun. Fig. 11 is a top plan view of the same.

Letters alike indicate parts alike th ronghout the several illustrations.

A indicates a metal frame of the usnal type of machine guns.

B B are the barrels.

C C are the bolts.

1) D are the cylinders.

D is the rear connection between the two cylinders with the valve d therein.

D is the front connection between the cylinders.

E E are pistons in the cylinders D D.

E E' are the piston rods secured to the ends of the bolts.

F F are the frames attached to the ends of the barrels B 13, which work in ways a f -G G are the startingrods.

l G are the steering and starting handles, Figs. 1 and 2.

1I H are bell-crank braces for supporting the bolts C C in the frames against the base of the cartridge in the barrel during a portion of the travel of thc bolt.

I is a rod which passes through theframe A.

1 isahandlc for operating the rod I, by which the firing of the gun can be started or stopped.

J is a double-ended fastener for retaining the steering and starting handles G lv in place.

l( is a balancclevcr pivoled to the frame A by a pin, k.

L is the hopper-box; L', the hopper.

A A are the openings in the sides of the frame A, through which the cartridges are ejected, having a folding or sliding door.

- A is'a folding or slidingdoorinvthe bottom of the frame A, Figs. 7, 1), and 10, fora simi- 'lar' purpose.

0 is a cani formed in the barrel, engaging a pin in the cross-bar of the frame A for the purpose of giving a reciprocating rotary inotion to the barrel. Y

N is a clutch on .the end ofthe bolt C,which t, engages change, N', on tlieend of thek barrel.

(l.2 is a rod attached to the rear end of the bolt (l, which slides in a grooved way in the inside of the frame A.

G is a knob or handle which passes through the frame A and is secured to the rod G. The handle G" reciprocatcs in aslot in the side of the frame A. l

M, Fig. 10, is another forni of clutch designed to operate in conjunction with the balancelcver K.

The frame A is constructed in the usual way. G rooved ways a a are madein the bottoni of theiraine A, and other ways, f f are made in the top plate of the frame A. There is attachedto the barrel a fraaie, F, from which an arm having a stcp,f, extends, and in the frame A a grooved way is iliade for the arm f to slide in. Y The frame F, with the barrel l, is placed in the frame A, 'snflicicut space be-` ing left for the frame and arm to recoil hack the distance required. In the frame F a dovetail way, a, is made,` and on the frame A a corresponding dovetail, a, is made. The bolt 0 is made to work in those dovetails. 1n the bolt is placed the usual firing-pin and helical spring. There is also an extractor,d,of a peculiar construction, pivoted in the bolt, and a coekinglevcr, ci, and a sear, 11. To the end of the bolt C a piston-rod, E', is attached, on which there is a piston, E. In the rear of the frame a pair of cylinders, D D, are placed, having connections D and D. The piston E works in the cylinder 1).and' the mouth of each cylinder is prgvided witha stalling-box, through which the piston-rod works. In the connection D' a valve, d', is placed, having an arm, d, Figs. 1 and '7, by which it is turned. The cylinders are lilled with air or a suitable fluid matter in the rear of the'pistons. I prefer to leave the cylinders empty in front of the pistons in ease the packing of the pistons E E might leak and canse jam ming, whereas vnow the fluid or air can pass from one cylinder to the other. l

The revolving paniiiers are placed in a frame, P, and made fast to thev frame A. The frame Fis cut away, in the manner shown in Fig. 1, to aduiit the end ofthe extractor c and the cooking-lever c2 to lift. The end of the extractor c and both ends of lever c are made with rollers, so that they will move freely. To the rear end ofthe bolt C, which projects downward, a bell-crank lever-shaped support, H, is pivoted. The end of the support H rests in a step, f, in the arm of the frame F. From this brace a pair of arms extends laterally out over the frame A. These arms are provided wit-li rollers.

On the frame A, in the path of the travel of the support H, the cams a' a are formed, so that when the recoil takes place the rollers on the arms of the support H mount up thc cams a a and lift the end of the support out of the step f. The bolt C'ls thereby released from the frame F, by which time the bullet has reached near the muzzle of the barrel. The gases in the barrel acting on the bolt forc'es it back vand IOO cjccts the spent cartridge.v When the ear-v tridge-shell is withdrawn within a short distance of the'rcar of the pannier, the roller end of the extractor c' strikes the cam e" on the depression made on the top of the frame A and lowers the lever end of the extractor, vthus lifting its hooked end clear off the cartridge. A spring under the extractor presses the hook end down.

To preventthe cartridge-shells from passing behind the pannier, I make the hole in the palmier-frame slightly narrower than the head of the cartridges. and nlake the bolt to correspond. The cooking-lever c strikes the cam c as the bolt C recedes, pressing the upper arm ofthe lever c2 down, and the lower arm in the inortise made in the firing-pin is pressed back, forcing with it the ringpin and eompressing the helical spring in thefbolt. The sear i' then engages in the head of the tiringpin and holds the helical spring compressed.

The firing-rod I has ats made thereon, so that when brought opposite the sear they do not come in contact with the scar; but by turning the handle I a short distance the rod I presses the lower arm of the seari back and releasesthe firing-pin, which is driven forward by the spring to tire the charge. By operating the handle'l the gun may be fired or not, as required.

'.lhebolt C, piston rod E', and cylinders D are in a direct line, and when the recoil takes place the bolt and piston `are forced back, pressing theair or fluid in one cylinderthrough the connection D into the adjoining cylinder, forcing its piston with the bolt forward, and closing the breech. The upper arm, h, of the support strikes against a pin or projection, i. on the frame A, forcing the end of the brace Hdown into the stepf on thearm ofthe frame. To avoid hammering the ends of the bolts C C against the ends of the barrels B B, I provide a balancelever, K, which is pivoted to the frame A at k. A trunnion ou either end of the lever K enters a groove, b, made in the top of the barrel, and as one barrel recoils back the other is forced forward by the lever K, and vice versa.

The panniers which convey the loaded eari tridges from the hopper L are made to turn no description.

one to the right and the other to the left, and are constructed and operated on the principle patented in Great Britain by J. D. Greene, dated June 18, 1875, No. 2,241, and require To prepare the gun to fire, the hopper L is placed in the hopperbox L and filled with cartridges. The handles Gare released from the fastener J. The handle G on the startingrod G is pulled back, and with it the forward bolt and barrel, and a loaded cartridge is brought in plaee,which the bolt thrusts into the barrel. The handle G and fastener .I are then put back in place, in the position shown in Fig. 6. A friction'spring, J, prevents the fastener from moving. A The handle I is then turned into the firing position. The gun will then go on firing as long as the hoppers are kept supplied with cartridgesfirst one barrel and action, then the other-fthe recoil from one charge loading and tiring' the other,

g keeping up a reciprocating motion throughout. 'Ihe excess of the recoil is taken up by the act of operating the several parts of the actions; but should that not be enough I provide the valve d', which, when turned by the handled@ so as to partially close the opening. the fluid or air that the cylinders are charged with is prevented from rushing through freely, aud thereby the desired speed is obtained at .which the gunis required to fire.

In order to fill the cylinders with fluid, l prefer to insert it through an opening made down through the valve into the cylinders, the entering-hole stopped by a scrcwplug, d. It' air is used, a proper valve will be required; or, indeed, the common atmosphere in the cylinders may answer the purpose.

ln orderto exclude dirt or dust entering the frame A and clogging the action, 'I provide folding or slidingdoors at A,whicl1 are closed when the gun is not in use.

In the modification of my invention illustrated -in Figs. 7 to 9 the frame A is constructed similar to the frame described, in which the panniers are securely fastened. Dovetail ways a a are made on the under side ot' the top plate of the frame A, in whiehthe bolts G C reciprocate. 0n the front end of the bolt C a solid clutch, N, is formed. On the end ofthe barrels B a flange, N', is made. A gap is made in this flange N to admit the clutch N to pass th rough in order to engage with the [lange N. On the barrels B B cams 0 are made, and in the eross-bar of the frame A, in which the barrels B B reciprocate, studs n u are placed, which are provided with friction rollers. When one bolt is driven forward by the recoil of the other, it pushes the barrel before it, which, with the cam O and pin o, imparts a horizontal rotary motion to the barrel, clutching it to the bolt. The recoil of the barrel reverses the action of the cams 0 O, causing the flange to release from the clutch N, When the barrel a id bolt have traveled acertain distance back,the bolt is then released from the barrel and reeoils back in waysaain the under sideA of the frame A, and forces the piston-rod and piston vthrough the cylinder, pressing the air or fluid before it through the connection D' and into the adjoining cylinder, forcing the piston therein forward, performing the functions illustrated in Figs. l to 6, and as before described. The underside of the top of the frame A is cut away for a short distance, forming a groove to admit the rear end ofthe extractor c', and the upper end of the cookinglever c2 to lift. \Vhen the -bolt C is forward, thelend of this groove forms a cam, c", which the upper arm of the cooking-lever c'l strikes as the bolt recedes, forcing, back and cooking the firing-pin, when it is caught by the hook on the sear i'. The rearend of the extractor c' strikes the cam c, and is thus lowered and IOO IIO

IIS

lifts the hooked end up clear off the rim of the said abutment attached tothe breech-bolt, ai cartridge. The hook of the extractor is kept a cani-surface for disengagiiig the breech-bc pressedvdown by a spring under the rear end of the lever. In all other respects the gun is similar to that hereinbefore set forth.

Another` modification of my invention is illiistrated in Figs. 9. 10, and 11, and is con-- structed as follows: Tliel'rame A andthe action are similar to the last frame and action hereinbefore set forth. In thisinoditication the barrels are made to slide freely back and forth in the cross-bar of the frame A, in the manner shown in Figs. 1 and 2,and are supplied with the balance'lever K, attached to the fraaie and barrels `in the Amanner before set forth and shown in Figs. 10 and 11. In the front end of the bolt C a lever, M, is pivoted. On one end of thislever a hook is formed,aiid a springen, is securedtothe frame A to keep the hook end of the lever'M pressed down in place. 'lhe other end of the lever M extends n p and intoV a groove formed in thc plate A. The rear end of this groove has an incline or cam, m. 0n the end of the barrels a flange, N', is formed, in which the hook on the lever M clutches. When the recoil takes place,Y the barrel and bolt travel back together for a short distance, when the roller end of the lever M strikes the cam in', causing it to lower and t-lie hook end of the lever M to rise, freeing the bolt from the barrel and allowing it to recoil and act in conjunction with the adjoining bolt, piston, and cylinder in the manner and as licreinbcfore set forth. When the barrel recoilsfa short distance and it is released from the bolt C, it is stopped by a coliar,lb, which strikes the crossbai ofthe frame A. As in the preceding gnn, the balance-lever K forces the adjoining barrel forward, so that there is a recipioea'ing motion of the barrels kept up with the other parts of the actions. I do not, however, contine myself to the use of two or more barrels, placed side by side; A number of barreis may be pnt together, in a circle and tired consecutively until all the4 barrels contained'in the circle have been fired, and so on, two circles of barrels constituting the set, instead of two single barrels, as set fort-h. Each circle of barrels may he revolved by apawl-a-ndwatchet motion, or by t-lie action of cams, in the maiiner before referred to, for revolving the paiiniers or by some other similar or suitable device.

Having now particularly described and as certained the nature of my said invention and in what manner thc saine/ls to be performed, I declare that what I claim is 1. In an automatic iiiacliinefgun, the coinbination, with a suitable frame, of a pair of reciprocating barrels, a yoke or bar pivoted to the frame betwen said barrels,and connecting them together, so that as one barrel is moved backward the other is moved forward, substantially as described.

2. In a machine-gun, the combination of a barrel provided with a hook or abutment, a breechbolt, an instrument for interlocking from the barrel, substantially as described.

3. In a machine-gun, the combination of barrel provided with frame F, a breech-bol a. brace or support for locking the breech-bc to the frame provided with a projecting ari and a cam surface for disengaging the breecl bolt from the barrel upon the backward mov ment of' the parts,substantially as describei 4. The combination of a breech-bolt, an e tractor providedwith rolleigas described, ai

'a cam siii-face or projection on the frame fi disengaging the extractor from the cartridg substantially as described. i

5. The combination of a-movable barrel, breech-bolt, a brace or locking-support for tl bolt provided with a crank-arm, and a pini projection on the frame for throwing the su] port intoloeking position, substantially as d scribed.

6. The combination, in a machine-gun,- of pair of breech fboltsarrangcd to slide fro: and. toward the barrels, connected parall` cylinders D D, end pistons working in sai cylinders, connected willi the breech-bolts fi A bringing the breech syslein of one barrel int tiring position upon the recoil of the ot-lie; substantially as described.

7. Ina machine gn'n havinga pair of ba rels, the combination, with a pair of breecl bolts arranged to alternately slide from an toward said barrels, of a caitridge-feeder, tif ing-hammer, eockiiig-lcver, and extractor, a

connected with and operated by said breecl block, substantially as described.

8. The combination of a pair of reciproca ing barrels, a pivoted yoke or bar coniiectin said barrels, a pair of breech bolts, a pair i pistons connected with said breech-bolts, pai allel connected cylindersin which said piston operate, and a cartridge-feeder, firing-haii nier, cooking-lever, and extractor connecte with and operated by said breech-block, Vsul stantially as described.

9. The combination, in a` machine-gun hai ing a pair of barrels, of a pair of breech-bolti pistons connected with said breech-bolts, an a pair of parallel connected cylinders'havin a regulating-valve between them,sul`istantiall as described.

10. In a machine-gun having reeiprocatin` brocoli-blocks sliding from the barrel to ope and 'toward thc barrel to close the breech, th tripping or tiring rod I, arranged across th frame in the path of the'sears and adapted t be thrown into and ont of operative positie by the crank or handle 1', asl described.

11. In an automatic machine gun, the com bination, with the breechbolts, of starting rods provided with handli s for operating ther and training-the gun, and a fastener for lock ing and releasing therods as required, sub stantially as described.

12. In an automatic machine-gun, the com biiiation, substantially as described, of apai of barrels, a pair of paniiicrs for deliverini cartridges in line with and between said barcooking-lever, and a cam for operating the rels and the breech-bolts, and a pair of breechsaid lever upon the backward movement of bolts, the panniers and breech-bolts being authe bolt, substantially as described. .Y tomaticallyand alternately operated by the lBETHEL BURTON. 5 recoil of the charge, as set forth. Witnesses:

13. The combination of a reciprocating CHARLES F. HAYESr breech bolt carrying the firing hammer, a HENRY BETHELL. 

